Cast removal channel



Jam 16, 1940. M PROSPERI 2,187,175 I CAST REMOVAL CHANNEL Filed Dec. 20, 1937 Patented Jan. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,187,175 CAST REMOVAL CHANNEL Milton H. Prosperi, Washington, D. 0. Application December 20, 1937, Serial No. 180,858

3 Claims.

7 My invention relates to the surgical art, and more particularly concerns a method and means for facilitating the removal of plaster and similar casts used to immobilize the limbs of a patient.

' such casts, first in inserting the cutting or breaking instrument, and second. in performing the cuttingitself without a resultant bruising of the skin. Furthermore, it frequently happens that 10"the cast is damaged to suchan extent that it could not be used a second time, after'its first removal for inspection of the limb.

It is highly desirable to provide some means for insuring the easy ingress of the cutting tool to the cast, and a step in that direction is represented in the device shown in German Patent No.

587,069, wherein is shown a flexible, elongated member having in section an outwardly extending bow, open at its inner surface. The disadvantage here, however, is that the open end is disposed against the skin, sothat attendant in-.

may

lateral and outwardly-extending wings, one on each side of said yoke, to form a solid back to protect the skin, the channel being formed by upting tool. This member or members are embedded in the plaster cast, being maintained open at at least one end, and the cutting tool is in- I serted in said open end. A clean cut results, with- '85.

l without damage to the cast.- This member, while it can be formed of any desired material, either metal or non-metal, preferably is formed of lightweight, radio-transparent material possessing a fair degree of flexibility, such as aluminum.

An object of my invention is, therefore, to produce a new form of device forfacilitating removal of plaster and similar casts without injury to either the patient or the cast.

Another object is to produce such a device,- adapted to be embedded in the cast. v

Another object is to produce the combination of a plaster or similar cast and a device for facilitating removal of the cast without injury to either the patient or the cast. I

Other objects will be obvious in part, and in part will be explained hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawing form- 55 ing part of this application and illustrating sev- Difficulty has been encountered in cutting open standing ribs to form a slot for guiding the cut- I out any possibility of injury to the patient, and

be seen that the elongated channel member I 10 shown therein is illustrated as formed of a single piece of material, stamped, molded or otherwise arranged into the desired shape. This meiri'b'er i canbe formed of any desired material, butIprefer to form it of suitable, partly-flexible, light- 15 weight metal, radio-transparent, such as aluminum, in order that no interferencev will be cocasioned by it when it is desired to make any exposure after the cast has been applied.

The metal is bent to form a yoke 2, which, to- 20 gether with sides comprised of the upstanding ribs 3, 3, for a channel. The channel-shaped member is completed by outwardly extending bearing wings 4, 4, comprising in eifect aprolongation of the yoke 2 As will be seen, the ribs 3, 3, being closely spaced together, form between them a slot 5 preferably just wide enough to receive the blade of a cutter, a castknife, or other instrument for removing the cast. v

This member may either be straight, asshown at l in Fig. 3, or curved in one or more planes to adapt itself closely to the limb, as shown at 6 in Fig. 1; the straight members I' and curved members 6 being fitted together to conform to the shape of the limb undergoing immobilization, while providing asubstantially unobstructed and continuous channel 5 throughout the length of the cast.

A variant of the member I is shown in Fig. 4.

Here the member 7 has the yoke 2, wings 4, 4, 40

sides composed of ribs 3, 3 and channelt of the member I of Fig. 3. However, in this embodiment the ribs 3, 3 have a plurality of triangular notches 8 along their lengths, with their apices near the back comprised of yoke 2 and wings 4, 4. 5

An example of the application of my channelshaped members is depicted in Fig. 1. The body of the patient is shown at 9, the upper arm at H], the forearm at I I, and the hand at l2. Referring for the moment to Fig. 2, it will be seen that immediately over the hand l2 and the arm, a stockinet 13 or alternatively a layer of cotton is applied directly on the skin. On top of this stockinet I place the metal channels. As shown in Fig. 1 there are two straight sections l and one curved section 6, the latter being placed intermediate the stright sections, and the channels of all the members abutting so as to form a continuous slot 5. Preferably these members are anchored in place as by two or three strips of adhesive tape, or other suitable securing means, adhesive or otherwise. It will be seen that the light-weight of the members, coupled with the broad bearing surface ofiered by the yoke 2 and the Wings 4, forming a substantially uninterrupted back, effectively precludes injury to the limb through localized pressure.

After the channel members I are positioned, the plaster bandage I4 is applied. By the term plaster cast as used hereinafter and in the claims I mean any sort of plastic or similar immobilizing means applied to the limbs. This plaster cast is usually though not invariably applied by moistening sheets of cotton bandage impregnated with the plastic materials, and then wrapping the bandage around the limb until the proper thickness and shape is realized, whereupon the plastic is allowed to set or harden into an immobile cast I5.

Two or more such channels may be formed around the periphery of the cast, as desired. They add to the strength of the cast, and show only the slightest irregularity of outline after completion of the cast. It is necessary to provide some means at the free ends of the channel-shaped members to prevent chafing of the skin. This is accomplished readily, as by wrapping some of the plaster bandage over such ends.

It is unnecessary to cover the top or open end of the slot 5, as has been done in certain prior art devices, such as are shown in German Patent No. 291,524, for example, which is an addition to German Patent No. 285,540 (the two must be read together for an understanding of the invention disclosed therein), filling of the slot with plaster will not interfere with proper functioning of the opening or cutting instrument. plaster and no stockinet is over the channel, and the cutting tool cuts plaster only.

In Fig. 2, is shown a manner of opening the cast when my device is employed. A pair of cutters IE or similar opening device is employed.

In fact in the present invention only The blade I! of the cutter is inserted in the free end of the channel or slot 5. It rests on the yoke 2, so that it does not contact the skin itself. The force applied thereto is equalized over the bearing wings 4, 4, so that bruising is effectively prevented. By continuing the cutting action along the length of the member, the cast is cut in a clean sharp line, so that it can be removed without difficulty, and thereafter re-applied, if desired, it being held in position as by adhesive tape.

It is obvious that once the broad features of ,my invention are disclosed, many modifications and adaptations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of my invention. Accordingly, I intend to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device adapted to be embedded in a surgical plaster cast, to facilitate opening the latter, comprising an elongated channel member, the back of which is adapted to bear against the limb of the patient, to protect the same, each side of said channel member being first bent reversely upon itself, and thereafter bent outwardly along lines adjacent the yoke of the channel member, to form load-bearing wings, serving to stabilize the elongated member and to distribute the load on the limb of the patient.

2. A device adapted to be embedded in a surgical plaster cast, to facilitate opening the latter, comprising an elongated channel member, the back of which is adapted to bear against the limb of the patient, to protect the same, each side of said channel member being first bent reversely upon itself, and then outwardly along lines adjacent the yoke of the channel member, to form load-bearing wings, serving to stabilize the elongated member and to distribute the load on the limb of the patient, the said channel member having a plurality of notches in each side thereof.

3. A device adapted to be embedded in a surgical plaster cast, to facilitate opening the latter, comprising an elongated channel member, the back of which is adapted to bear against the limb of the patient, to protect the same, each side of said channel member being first bent reversely upon itself, and then outwardly along lines adjacent the yoke of the channel member, to form load-bearing wings, serving to stabilize the elongated member and to distribute the load on the limb of the patient, the said channel member being formed entirely of a single sheet of metal.

MILTON H. PROSPERI. 

